74 who forced his way into the citadel of classical ballet after four crucial mis- spent years had all but destroyed his chances of ever getting past the gate. He thinks the broken toes and the stress fractures came from dancing on the cement floors of TV studios, which he did in order to supplement his meagre salary from the ballet and to prove to his skepticallower-middle-class Italian family that dancers could command respectable incomes. Musicals were another of his lucrative sidelines. The disastrous pre-N.Y.C.B. back injury occurred while he was rehearsing for an industrial show. Villella still has, for a dancer, an inordinate regard for money. When, in 1984, WNET was preparing an ar- chival documentary on Balanchine, he was the only one of Balanchine's danc- ers who refused to sign a release al- lowing the use of old film and TV- performance footage. Villella insisted on being paid; the producers had not budgeted fees for the dancers; Villella had to be cut out of the show. He defends his position by saying that he took it on behalf of all underpaid danc- ers Of the many accomplishments for which he is celebrated, Villella prides himself most on having been the first American to make money as a dancer. He regards it as a victory for the entire profession-a historic breakthrough. It was that; it was also compelled by personal circumstance. For a young man of Villella's background to even think of himself as a dancer, he had to commit himself to becoming a star- the kind of star who commands wealth as well as prestige. From the beginning of his tenure with New York City Ballet, this ambition of his got him into trouble with Balanchine. Balanchine permitted the TV performances, the shows, and the guest shots with other companies-he even choreographed some of them-but he did not approve. He did not like the idea of Villella's participation in a 1958 Gene Kelly special called "Dancing Is a Man's Game"-the TV appearance that set off all the others. "There are only three men that you should work for," he told Villella at the time (he meant besides himself, of course). "Stravin- sky, Picasso, and-and Cocteau." Vil- lella was mystified. Cocteau was not planning a TV special that year. NOVEMBER. 21, 1988 When Villella made the down payment on his town house-he remembers it as a great day in his life-Balanchine tried to dissuade him, saying, "It will own you." I once asked Lincoln Kir- stein about Villella's stubborn quest for respectabili ty, thinking Kirstein, too, might have taken a dim view of it. I was wrong. All Kirstein would say- and he said it forcefully several times- was "Eddie was a martyr." To himself Villella has always been a businessman, shrewdly marketing his talents and investing his earnings. For a time in the sixties, he was part owner of a popular East Side disco called Arthur. Until three years ago, he had an interest in a motel on Cape Cod. But his N.Y.C.B. career was the most pre- cious thing in his life; to have lost it would have been to lose all. He main- tained it as loyally as he could, but it paid peanuts-no more than about a hundred dollars a performance at best. Balanchine did not begrudge Vil- lella his need of money, much as he may have resented it. He made Villella the center of some of his most marvel- lous ballets: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" "Tarantella" "Harle q uin- , , Behind this one world-class resort three distinctive worlds await you. '} -. \,\ . ", t ,..... ......... I ;}j.. ... Iì ", '" ........ ... -1- " .I ). . \ '" - .. 6- A- Ii .... ê ;). ,'" .if. '" .( It f · <<. to. ...- , .....i;: " ." , ... """ . '\( t : ;- '" . , ;J' &'-. . ...,...,.r . . '*i '5;.. "- , .... ... ,'\ l' 'ok .. " , l' '\. I- I -, ii ii '-1;<, "\ , 1"" it \ 1 \ \\'0 \ "'( 't-,.," F" .. to " - Jt1,: .,$ .,. .s:. ..... -" ..... <t,. - ""-...... . '\ "\. ..... ;:. , " . .. " ... . .. .. <(# :'" ... ... 100 . .. . -..;:, * - 'i THE BOCA RATON RESORT AND CLUB Three distinctive worlds in one world-class resort. .. e entrance to The Boca Raton 1 esort and Club is world famous. But what lies behind it may surprise you Three distinctive worlds await your pleasure. The secret gardens of The Cloister... breathtaking views from The Tower.. .and the ocean- front paradise of The Boca Beach Club. Each is a unique part of the most elegant resort in the world. And now,aftera $40 million refurbish- ing, it is more luxurious than ever. 10 restaurants, 29 tennis courts, 2 championship IS-hole golf courses, 4 swimming pools and a private ocean beachofferendlessoppor- tunities for enjoyment. It is Florida s only 5-Star, 5-Diamond resort And It is convenient to West Palm Beach and Ft. Lauderdale Airports See all three worlds of The Boca. For reservations or a brochure call your travel professional or ) -800-327-0101, Ext. 56.